Removable toilet seat cover scale device

ABSTRACT

A removable toilet seat cover scale device for weighing a person or an object includes, in combination, a toilet seat cover including hinges for hinged attachment to a toilet seat, a scale mechanism connected to the toilet seat cover, the scale mechanism having at least two force sensors located on a bottom of the toilet seat cover for contact with a toilet seat when the toilet seat cover is attached to a toilet seat and is in a closed position. The force sensors transmit the weight force measurements to a processor, which converts the weight force measurements to an accurate total weight measurement, and the processor transmits the accurate total weight measurement to a display. The hinged attachment includes a lock-release mechanism, the lock-release mechanism having lock and a lock-release, the lock-release mechanism having a first position, being a rest position wherein the hinge means is locked into a toilet seat element, and having a second position being an unlocked position for removal of the toilet seat cover from the toilet seat when the lock-release is activated.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,954 filed on Jan. 16, 2005 by the same inventor herein, entitled “Toilet Seat Cover Scale Device”.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

a. Field of Invention

The invention relates generally to a removable toilet seat cover scale device that may be used by anyone to weigh himself or herself by merely sitting on the seat cover, rather than standing on a scale. It offers an alternative to a stand on scale for everyone and is a space saver as well. This invention is also particularly advantageous for people with mobility and standing difficulties, including wheel chair-based persons, other persons with ambulatory problems, persons with balancing problems and other fragile persons, such as very old people. Further, the scale cover is removable and, hence, may be removed from the seat and its toilet connection and be placed on a floor or elsewhere for use independently as a scale.

b. Description of Related Art

The following patents relate to scales and/or toilet related features:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,912 B1 shows a toilet seat that uses an electric generator, powerable by batteries, to generate negative ions that are dispersed into the toilet bowl to achieve odor control. The seat is configured like a standard toilet seat and is designed to be low-cost. This prior art patent merely shows the use of battery powered devices in conjunction with toilets.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,160 shows a device mounted on a toilet lid that includes a lamp, a battery, a gravity switch and a light sensor, whereby the lamp is automatically lit in the absence of light when the toilet lid is raised, and is automatically extinguished when the light sensor senses light or when the toilet lid is lowered to rest on the toilet seat.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,823 describes a toilet seat clock for mounting on a toilet seat hingably attached to a toilet bowl having a toilet seat and a cover hingably attached to the bowl. The clock apparatus is mounted on the toilet seat in a chamber provided in a forward portion of a toilet seat, the chamber extending through the toilet seat and the clock apparatus being, contained within a housing to be inserted in the chamber, the housing to be enclosed on the top by a transparent lens for viewing the display panel including the time display and being enclosed on the bottom by a base plate which is fastened by attachment members to the bottom surface of the toilet seat. A sealing member is provided for sealing the lens mounted on the upper surface of the seat for preventing the moisture from entering the chamber and contacting the clock apparatus, the clock apparatus being of conventional construction including a digital watch which is battery operated.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,583 describes a vibrating toilet seat, wherein a vibrating motor is placed within a cushioned toilet seat. The motor is automatically actuated when the user sits on the seat. The motor can also be turned on manually. Power for the vibrating unit can be derived from a battery pack, or the unit can be plugged into a standard wall outlet. The invention can be used in conjunction with existing cushioned toilet seats, which can be easily modified to accommodate the vibrator motor and switching mechanism. The invention is not limited to use with toilet seats, but can also be used with automobile seats, or with other types of seats.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,656 shows a weighing device that includes at least a force sensor integrated in a toilet seat resting on the upper edge of the bowl. The sensor works with an electronic unit including means for formatting the measurement signal that drives a means for displaying the user's weight, said means being placed on an extension of seat; the hinge along the X-X axis comprises an oblong hole to avoid affecting the measurement.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,057,024 describes a weighing device for toilets and like, the combination of a toilet bowl, a toilet seat pivotally mounted at the one end on the top thereof, a weighing scale mechanism enclosed within the body of the toilet seat, and operating levers for said weighing scale mechanism extending through the bottom face of the toilet seat.

Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a removable toilet seat cover scale device for weighing a person or an object. It includes, in combination, a toilet seat cover including hinge means for hinged attachment to a toilet seat, the hinge means including a lock-release mechanism, the lock-release mechanism having lock and a lock-release, the lock-release mechanism having a first position, being a rest position wherein the hinge means is locked into a toilet seat element, and having a second position being an unlocked position for removal of the toilet seat cover from the toilet seat when the lock-release is activated; a scale mechanism connected to the toilet seat cover, the scale mechanism having at least two force sensors located on a bottom of the toilet seat cover for contact with a toilet seat when the toilet seat cover is attached to a toilet seat and is in a closed position. The force sensors have the capacity for weight force measurement and the means to transmit the weight force measurement to a processor. The scale mechanism processor converts weight force measurements to an accurate total weight measurement, and the processor has means to transmit the accurate total weight measurement to a display. There is also a power means connected to the processor to provide power thereto. This power means could be house current, but is preferably an independent power source, such as one or more batteries, fuel cells, solar cells or some combination thereof. The display is functionally connected to the scale mechanism processor for receiving and displaying the accurate total weight measurement.

In some embodiments of the present invention removable toilet seat cover scale device, the display is wired to the processor while in others, it may be connected wirelessly.

In some embodiments of the present invention removable toilet seat cover scale device, the display is firmly mounted to the toilet seat cover. In other embodiments, the display is movable and unconnected to the toilet seat except for wire for being wired to the processor. In yet other embodiments, the display is functionally connected to the processor with a wireless connection and is movable and may be wall mountable or flat-bottomed for resting on a horizontal surface or have features for either arrangement.

In some embodiments of the present invention removable toilet seat cover scale device, the scale mechanism includes at least two force sensors. In others, there are at least three force sensors, two of which are opposing side located, and one of which is forward located. Any geometries or layouts for the force sensors may be used without exceeding the scope of the present invention as long as they enable the device to produce accurate weight results, e.g., three sensors may be laid out with one in the back area and two in the front area.

In some embodiments of the present invention removable toilet seat cover scale device, the hinge means includes a floating hinge section to permit vertical movement of the toilet seat cover relative to a toilet seat to which it may be mounted, independent of the rotational movement between the toilet seat cover and the toilet seat.

The toilet seat cover of the present invention removable toilet seat cover scale device may be made of wood, plastic, metal or other material or combination of materials, but is preferably a plastic toilet seat cover.

In some embodiments of the present invention removable toilet seat cover scale device, power source is a battery and is removably connected for replacement thereof. The toilet seat cover scale device display may be selected from the group consisting of an audio display, an LCD display, and LED display, a plasma display and combinations thereof.

The present invention is also directed to a removable toilet seat scale system, which includes: a.) a toilet seat cover including hinge means for hinged attachment to a toilet seat, the hinge means including a lock-release mechanism, the lock-release mechanism having lock and a lock-release, the lock-release mechanism having a first position, being a rest position wherein the hinge means is locked into a toilet seat element, and having a second position being an unlocked position for removal of the toilet seat cover from the toilet seat when the lock-release is activated; b.) a scale mechanism connected to the toilet seat cover, the scale mechanism having at least two force sensors located on a bottom of the toilet seat cover for contact with a toilet seat when the toilet seat cover is attached to a toilet seat and is in a closed position, the force sensors having capacity for weight force measurement, means to transmit the weight force measurement to a processor, the scale mechanism including a processor for converting weight force measurements to an accurate total weight measurement, the processor having means to transmit the accurate total weight measurement in a display; c.) a display functionally connected to the scale mechanism processor for receiving and displaying the accurate total weight measurement; d.) power means connected to the processor to provide power thereto; and, e.) a toilet seat hingedly connected to the toilet seat cover.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detail description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an oblique top view of a preferred embodiment present invention device;

FIG. 2 shows another oblique view of the FIG. 1 present invention device, but with the cover opened to illustrate the force sensor locations;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show partial cut side views of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the cover shown open and detached, and closed and attached, respectively with details of the lock-release mechanism;

FIG. 5 shows a partial side cut view of another present invention embodiment with the cover removed from the toilet seat and FIG. 6 shows a partial cut top view of the toilet seat shown in FIG. 5 with further details of the lock-release mechanism;

FIG. 7 shows important components of the present invention device in block diagram form;

FIG. 8 shows a side cut view of a present invention mounted on a toilet;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a typical wiring and component arrangement;

FIG. 10 shows a top view of an alternative present invention device;

FIG. 11 shows a top view of another alternative present invention device

FIG. 12 shows a top view of yet another alternative present invention device utilizing wireless transmission to the display;

FIG. 13 illustrates an oblique partial view of another embodiment of the present invention device that shows shift position lock mechanism details;

FIG. 14 shows a side cut view of the device shown in FIG. 13 with the seat cover removed;

FIG. 15 illustrates a side cut view of the device shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 with the cover at the correct attachment angle;

FIG. 16 shows a side view of the present invention device shown in FIGS. 13 through 14, but with the cover attached and in the rest position; and,

FIG. 17 shows an oblique partial cut view of the present invention device toilet seat of FIGS. 13 through 16 above, with the seat cover removed and out of view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an oblique top view of a preferred embodiment present invention device removable toilet seat cover 10 attached to toilet seat 20. FIG. 2 shows another oblique view of the FIG. 1 present invention device cover 10 and seat 20, but with the cover 10 open to illustrate the force sensor positions, namely, sensors 42, 44, 46 and 48. Both Figures are described together and numbered components refer to either or both Figures in accordance with what is shown.

Cover 10 has a plastic molded body 12 with necessary wiring for connecting the scale parts embedded therein. Processor 18 includes a functional chip that receives force sensor data when a user is being weighed, and processes the data to minimally add the force sensor weights and transmit the results to the display 32. It may include other features such as clock or clock and date calculating, storage of weighing history, a speaker and voice announcement of weight results, etc. The processor 18 is in a housing set into the cover 10 that also has a power supply, such as a battery or other cell, inside that is replaceable. Processor 18 is wired with the embedded wiring to the sensors 42, 44, 46 and 48. Optional on/off or on/sequence readout/off button 34 is connected to processor 18.

Cover 10 is hingedly connected to seat 20 with hinges 26 and 28, and the rotational shaft receivers may be enlarged to permit a small range of floating to eliminate any pull from the hinges 26 and 28 that might otherwise adversely affect the scale reading. Front 14 may be lifted and closed as is any toilet seat cover, and the floating hinge will not affect that functionality.

To use the present invention scale toilet seat cover 10, the cover 10 is in the closed (down) position. When a user sits on the cover 10 and picks up his/her feet, the sensors 42, 44, 46 and 48 press against the seat 20 that presses against a toilet rim (not shown), and these sensors pick up their portion of the weight force, which is transmitted to the processor 18, where processing is rapidly completed and the total accurate weight will be displayed on display 32 (and optionally spoken out to the user, if the optional voice weight announcement feature and components are included with the device).

By using the cover 10 instead of the seat 20 for the scale, a number of advantages are achieved. One is that the display, processor and battery are behind the upended cover during male urination and are thus protected from accidental exposure to corrosive and damaging liquids. Another is that the user need not sit on the seat to be weighed. Another is ease of repair, as the cover is much easier to remove than is a seat. Another advantage is that the cover can be removed for any reason (repair) and not stop the functionality of the toilet. Another advantage is that children not yet large enough for the toilet seat can be held on the cover and weighed. Pets can be weighed without falling in or being frightened by the toilet. Likewise, luggage, small and large can be singularly or together weighed without the need to balance and the risk of falling in if the scale were on the seat instead of the cover. Many other advantages are also achieved with the present invention device, as can now be seen from the description of the present invention set forth herein.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show partial cut side views of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the cover 10 shown open and detached, and closed and attached, respectively with details of the lock-release mechanism. Identical parts are identically numbered in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. In FIG. 3, seat cover 10 is detached and male component 30, a part of the lock-release mechanism, is permanently attached to the bottom of cover 10. Hinge 28 includes receiving slot 32 adapted to receive male component 30. When male component 30 is inserted into slot 32, spring loaded pull mechanism 50 automatically locks onto male component 30. To remove the cover 10 for floor scale use, cover 10 needs to be lifted, spring loaded pull mechanism 50 is pulled up and cover 10 is moved slightly back for removal. FIG. 4 shows the present invention device with cover 10 connected to hinge 28 (and left hinge 26, not shown in this figure) in its down (rest) position for dual functionality—to cover the toilet and to present a sitting scale for weighing.

FIG. 5 shows a partial side cut view of another present invention embodiment with the cover removed from the toilet seat and FIG. 6 shows a partial cut top view of the toilet seat shown in FIG. 5 with further details of the lock-release mechanism. Toilet seat cover 60 includes a scale mechanism 62 that functions in a similar manner to those described above. Cover 60 has bracket 64 with a truncated circle orifice 66. Orifice 66 is truncated by virtue of parallel vertical walls that function as a lock-release mechanism component. Referring now to both FIGS. 5 and 6, toilet seat 70 has rear bracket 72 with lock-release bracket 74. Extending to the right of lock-release bracket 74 is axle 78 and key flange 76.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it can be seen that, if cover 60 is rotated to a vertical position, then truncated circle orifice 66 will fit onto key flange 76 and then onto axle 78 for open and close rotation of cover 60 relative to toilet seat 70. Cover 60 may only be removed when positioned vertically and moved to the right. (An identical set of components is shown to the left of rear bracket 72 and functions in harmony with a second truncated circle orifice.)

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the critical features of the present invention. Thus, toilet seat 80 and cover with scale 82 are connected at hinge means 84. Hinge means 84 includes lock-release mechanism 86, which is used to remove cover with scale 82 from hinge means 84 and, hence, from toilet seat 80 for use of the scale separate from a toilet and its seat. The lock-release mechanism 86 may embody any of a number of possibilities, including spring-loaded push-to-release locks, spring-loaded pull-to-release locks, slide-to-release locks, position shift-to-release locks, lever latch locks, and others.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of present invention device toilet seat cover 100, that is similar to device 10 of FIG. 1. In this FIG. 8, toilet seat 90 is mounted on toilet 80 (and may be leaned against tank 82 when open). Seat 90 has its normal resting pods, such as pods 92 and 94, and is hinged at the rear end at axle 110 with bracket 96 and bolt 98 affixing it to be rotatably attached to toilet 80. The end of axle 110 has a key flange similar to key flange 76 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 above, and hence, the cover 100 in this FIG. 8 embodiment is removable and works in the manner and with the same benefit as the FIGS. 5 and 6 embodiment.

Present invention cover 100 has pods such as pods 102 and 104 with force sensors 106 and 108 inside thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, and in contact with the top of seat 90. Cover 100 in rotatable independently of seat 90 and has a tall slot to render it vertically mobile so as to eliminate any hinge pull on a weighing process. Thus, slot 114 is narrow enough to hold onto axle 110 but is tall enough to provide a vertical free floating movement of the cover 100. The processor (inside, not shown) processes the weight information when activated and sends it to be displayed on front 101 display panel 120.

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically a typical wiring and component arrangement wherein force sensors 130 are located on the bottom of a cover and send weight information to a powered processor 140 for processing. The finished weight results (and optional information, such as date and/or time) are sent for presentation to display 150 having one of the arrangements 152.

As shown in FIG. 10, this embodiment of the present invention device includes three force sensors 11, 13 and 15 placed in a triangular symmetrical arrangement on the underside of cover 101. The sensors are integrated into seat cover 101 and are connected via electric wiring, such as wire 17, to an electronic processor unit 21 powered by batteries 19. The device processor unit 21 also formats measurement signals and calculates total added weight delivered by the sensors and transmits it to a digital display means 23 placed on an extension 25 of the front 27 of seat cover 101. Hinging connections 31 and 37 may be similar to those described above.

The total net weight measurement signal can alternatively be transmitted by wire to an outside display (that is, one not embedded in or on or directly attached to the seat cover). This is shown in FIG. 11 wherein toilet seat cover 151 with force sensors 153, 155, and 157 and a processor 159 operate as described above, except that the wire 161 extends to a remotely located display 165. Cell 163 powers the device.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of a wireless present invention device. Here, toilet seat cover 201 has sensors 203, 305, 207 and 209, as shown.

Processor 211 receives weight data from the four force sensors and transmit it wirelessly through transmitter 213 to display 215. Display 215 is wall mounted, but because it has a flat bottom, it could alternatively be set on a horizontal surface such as a sink or countertop. Additionally, display 165 could be programmable to store or store and compare weights, for example, by person and by date of fixed or arbitrarily chosen or programmed periods. Display 165 could be any size, from credit card size to a larger display, and may be any known display technology, including CRT, LCD, plasma, etc.

The next five Figures, that is, FIGS. 13 through 17 all relate to present invention device 250 and are described in conjunction with one another. Identical parts are identically numbered throughout these Figures. Thus, FIG. 13 illustrates an oblique partial view of another embodiment of the present invention, device 250, that shows shift position lock mechanism details. FIG. 14 shows a side cut view of the device 250 shown in FIG. 13 with the seat cover removed. FIG. 15 illustrates a side cut view of the device 250 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 with the cover at the correct attachment angle. FIG. 16 shows a side view of the present invention device 250 shown in FIGS. 13 through 15, but with the cover attached and in the rest position. FIG. 17 shows an oblique partial cut view of the present invention device toilet seat of FIGS. 13 through 16 above, with the seat cover removed and out of view. Present invention device 250 includes a toilet seat 251, a bowl attachment flange 253 and a toilet seat 255 with a scale mechanism (not shown) that operates in a manner similar to those shown above. Bow attachment flange 253 includes hinge pin bracket 257 and hinge pin 259. Hinge pin 259 has a pin cap 263 shown in FIGS. 13, 15 and 17, but removed in FIGS. 14 and 16 below to illustrate the shape of hinge pin 259 to accommodate lock mechanism receiver 261 located in seat cover 255.

FIG. 13 shows device 250 with seat cover 255 at the correct angle (about 50° from horizontal) for engaging and disengaging lock mechanism receiver 261 with pin 259. FIG. 14 shows the same position of seat cover 255 relative to the other components, but from a side view. As should be now clear from FIG. 14, lock mechanism receiver 261 has a keyway that will fit onto the flats of pin 259 only when the two are aligned.

FIG. 15 shows the same angle of the seat cover 255, but after lock mechanism 261 has be engaged and attached onto the pin. FIG. 16 shows cover 255 in the fully closed position, showing the rotation of the lock mechanism 261 on pin 259 and showing that seat 255, therefore, cannot be removed from pin 259. Thus, a user must go through two steps to remove seat cover 255, namely, rotate seat cover 255 up to an angle wherein the keyway of lock mechanism 261 aligns with the flats of pin 259, and then pull cover 255 away from the pin. This enables the user to place the seat cover with scale on a floor or anywhere else, to be used separately from the toilet and toilet seat.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A removable toilet seat cover scale device for weighing, which comprises: a.) a toilet seat cover including hinge means for hinged attachment to a toilet seat, said hinge means including a lock-release mechanism, said lock-release mechanism having lock and a lock-release, said lock-release mechanism having a first position, being a rest position wherein said hinge means is locked into a toilet seat element, and having a second position being an unlocked position for removal of said toilet seat cover from said toilet seat when said lock-release is activated; b.) a scale mechanism connected to said toilet seat cover, said scale mechanism having at least two force sensors located on a bottom of said toilet seat cover for contact with a toilet seat when said toilet seat cover is attached to a toilet seat and is in a closed position, said force sensors having capacity for weight force measurement, means to transmit said weight force measurement to a processor, said scale mechanism including a processor for converting weight force measurements to an accurate total weight measurement, said processor having means to transmit said accurate total weight measurement in a display; c.) a display functionally connected to said scale mechanism processor for receiving and displaying said accurate total weight measurement; and, d.) power means connected to said processor to provide power thereto.
 2. The toilet seat of claim 1 wherein said lock-release mechanism is selected from the group insisting of spring-loaded push-to-release locks, spring-loaded pull-to-release locks, slide-to-release locks, position shift-to-release locks and lever latch locks.
 3. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 1 wherein said display is wired to said processor.
 4. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 2 wherein said display is firmly mounted to said toilet seat cover.
 5. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 2 wherein said display is movable and unconnected to said toilet seat except for wire for being wired to said processor.
 6. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 1 wherein said display is functionally connected to said processor in a wireless connection.
 7. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 1 wherein said scale mechanism includes at least three force sensors, two of which are side located and one of which is forward located.
 8. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 1 wherein said hinge means includes a floating hinge section to permit vertical movement of said toilet seat cover relative to a toilet seat to which it may be mounted, said vertical movement between said toilet seat cover and said toilet seat.
 9. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 1 wherein said toilet seat cover is a plastic toilet seat cover.
 10. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 1 wherein said power source is a battery and is removably connected for replacement thereof, and wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of an audio display, an LCD display, and LED display, a plasma display and combinations thereof.
 11. A removable toilet seat scale system, which comprises: a.) a toilet seat cover including hinge means for hinged attachment to a toilet seat, said hinge means including a lock-release mechanism, said lock-release mechanism having lock and a lock-release, said lock-release mechanism having a first portion, being a rest position wherein said hinge means is locked into a toilet seat element, and having a second position being an unlocked position for removal of said toilet seat cover from said toilet seat when said lock-release is activated; b.) a scale mechanism connected to said toilet seat cover, said scale mechanism having at least two force sensors located on a bottom of said toilet seat cover for contact with a toilet seat when said toilet seat cover is attached to a toilet seat and is in a closed position, said force sensors having capacity for weight force measurement, means to transmit said weight force measurement to a processor, said scale mechanism including a processor for converting weight force measurements to an accurate total weight measurement, said processor having means to transmit said accurate total weight measurement in a display; c.) a display functionally connected to said scale mechanism processor for receiving and displaying said accurate total weight measurement; d.) power means connected to said processor to provide power thereto; and, e.) a toilet seat hingedly connected to said toilet seat cover.
 12. The toilet seat of claim 11 wherein said lock-release mechanism is selected from the group insisting of spring-loaded push-to-release locks, spring-loaded pull-to-release locks, slide-to-release locks, position shift-to-release locks and lever latch locks.
 13. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 11 wherein said display is wired to said processor.
 14. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 12 wherein said display is firmly mounted to said toilet seat cover.
 15. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 12 wherein said display is movable and unconnected to said toilet seat except for wire for being wired to said processor.
 16. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 11 wherein said display is functionally connected to said processor in a wireless connection.
 17. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 11 wherein said scale mechanism includes at least three force sensors, two of which are side located and one of which is forward located.
 18. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 11 wherein said hinge means includes a floating hinge section to permit vertical movement of said toilet seat cover relative to a toilet seat to which it may be mounted, said vertical movement between said toilet seat cover and said toilet seat.
 19. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 11 wherein said toilet seat cover is a plastic toilet seat cover.
 20. The toilet seat cover scale device of claim 11 wherein said power source is a battery and is removably connected for replacement thereof, and wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of an audio display, an LCD display, and LED display, a plasma display and combinations thereof. 